Radical prostatectomy (RP) can cause neurogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), which negatively affects the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer. Currently, there is a dearth of effective therapeutic strategies. Although stem cell therapy is promising, direct cell transplantation to injured cavernous nerves is constrained by poor cell colonization. In this study, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)/gelatin electrospun membranes (PGEM) were fabricated to load bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as a patch to be placed on injured nerves to alleviate ED. This study aimed to establish a promising and innovative approach to mitigate neurogenic ED post-RP and lay the foundation for modifying surgical procedures. Electrospinning and molecular biotechnology were performed in vitro and in vivo, respectively. It was observed that PGEM enhanced the performance of BM-MSCs and Schwann cells due to their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. The transplanted PGEM and loaded BM-MSCs synergistically improved bilateral cavernous nerve injury-related ED and the corresponding histopathological changes. Nevertheless, transplantation of BM-MSCs alone has been verified to be ineffective. Overall, PGEM can serve as an ideal carrier to supply a more suitable survival environment for BM-MSCs and Schwann cells, thereby promoting the recovery of injured cavernous nerves and erectile function.
Keywords: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells; Neurogenic erectile dysfunction; PLLA/gelatin electrospun membranes.
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